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Before author Donald Miller’s message about Christianity (“Don’t be ashamed of it”) fully asserts itself in the last act, this whimsical coming-of-age story about a Texas fundamentalist kid (Marshall Allman) discovering new outlooks, and free-thinking females, at Reed College in Portland, Oregon scores points for its appealing characters. Actors Allman, Claire Holt, and Tania Raymonde all contribute to the frisky collegiate flavor of Ben Pearson and Steve Taylor’s screenplay (adapted from Miller’s memoir) – but in the end it’s no Animal House or PCU. The book-burning scene should have been a tipoff. Might make a like-minded double feature with The Way, but Miller’s propaganda-lite eventually suffers in comparison. Directed by Taylor. (107 min.)
ByKelly Vance